From Loung Probang to Vientiane

After returning to Loung Probang we decided it was time to make our way south and check out the tubing scene at Vang Vieng. We ran into the wolf pack and they were headed in the same direction so we booked seats on the van they already hired.
The next morning we grabbed some sandwiches for the road and for breakfast. The van was supposed to pick us up at our friends guest house around eight thirty. Due to a series of delays including a van switch we ended not getting on the road in till 11 or so. The van we thought we were going to be in mysteriously got switched to a much more uncomfortable one which was a bit of a let down. However the ride was saved by the scenery along the way. The road was a series of switchbacks that took us through a couple mountain passes. We asked the driver if we could stop in to take a picture of a series of mountains that looked more like stalagmites then mountains but he quickly said no.
On arrival we got dropped off at a cheep guest house that was a couple blocks from the river. The group decided to keep looking and ended up hitting the jackpot (well sort of). We found a two rooms that each fit four people that had a private balcony overlooking the river and the mountains (private because the other two rooms were not being used).
In the morning we went to get some breakfast and search for the famous (or so we thought) family guy bar. Turns out 90 percent of the bars/restaurants our either family guy or friends bars. So we found the closest one and ate some breakfast. Seeing that there was probably not a whole lot going on other then the tubing scene up the river Rooney and I booked our bus ticket for Vientiane for the next afternoon. It had been raining all morning and was still kind of gray out be we were able to rally the troops to go and check out what was going on up the river.
We got there around 3 and much to our surprise the party was in full swing. People were having small dance parties on the docks of these bars and were covered in paint. It almost looked like little full moon parties on all the docks. There was also zip lines at a couple of the bars. It was very entertaining watching people hold on to long and consequently get launched into the water. After some careful consideration we decided not to rent tubes to float down the river and instead just walk from bar to bar and if need be swim across. This was due to the price of the tube along with the deposit you had to lay down (I guess tubes get lost and stolen on all the time).
At the second bar we stopped at featured one of the zip lines. Watching people struggle with the idea of letting go seemed to be even funnier up close. However after we were there for a little while it seemed appropriate to show people how to properly use a zip line (for there own safety of course). So once again Rooney and I sacrificed our time in order to help out our fellow party goers and climbed up the tower. We of course let go at the proper time and had to of looked much more graceful and in control then the hooligans we had watched earlier. When the zip lining lesson was over and everyone new how it should be done safely and responsibly we moved on down the river.
Our next stop had a mud volleyball court that was heavily aided by the rain from the morning. So naturally we decided to get a little game of three on three going. However it turned out that walking was going to be the biggest issue. The court was flooded and had hidden holes all over that seemed to be about 2 feet deep. After a couple of minuets of failed rally attempts the frustration was taken out by everyone getting tackled into the mud. Afterwords we went for a swim in the river to wash off. We dried off and hung around for a little bit it in till it was dark and time to head back to town. The rest of the night was a more low key compared to the zip lining and after hanging out with the wolf pack we went to sleep.
The next morning everyone woke up a little soar not to surprisingly. Members of the group woke up with shoulders that ached. We decided that it had to be from getting tackled in the mud and had nothing to due with our zip lining technique. Later that day it was off to Vientiane.
Still a little tired from the day before we had an early night. The next couple days were taken up by doing a bunch of site seeing around the city. The highlight was the Buddha park about 25 kilometers outside the city. It was a collection of Buddhist, Hindu, and other religious sculptures from around the area. Walking around the different statues and sculpture was really fun and it felt oddly familiar for some reason. Later we realized the reason it seemed so familiar was the reason all the sculptures were in the park in the first place. It had to have been an ancient winterlude stone carving contest. This was obviously the reason all these carvings were in the same place and with that mystery solved we ate some lunch by the river.
Our nights were filled with just eating and hanging out at local food stands by the river. After a couple days we booked our ticket south to Pakse.

-WBM